10 Free Spring/Easter Printable Banners

I have been looking for some Spring and Easter banners to make the house look festive for spring.  These are all FREE printables which can be embellished with string, ribbon, and doodads.

Sandy Toes and Popsicles

A Mini Banner by MeckMom

A Pottery Barn Inspired Banner by Embellish

Peeps Banner by The Paper Mama

Printable banner, place settings, and napkin rings by GeeWoonMarieke

Hoppy Easter Banner by Eye Candy Event Details

Spring By Party Place

Bunny Cameo by Paging SuperMom

Spring Pinwheel by Sugar Tot Designs

Happy Spring or Easter Banner by Cakes Likes A Party

Free St. Patrick's Day Banner

I was looking for something to hand on my fireplace for spring, and I came across this free printable for St. Patrick's Day.  This is simple to make.  All you need to do is print, cut, and hang.

Lucky for me, when I went to print this banner I discovered I was all out of card-stock (someone was using it to make paper airplanes).  So off I went to the store to buy some more.  When I tried printing the second time, I noticed my printer was running out of ink, ugh.  I should have bought some while I was out, but I like how the banner pieces were not mono-toned but a mix of different hues of green and yellow.  Its a happy mistake and they came out pretty cool! 

I cut them with scalloped edged scissors and gave a darker brushed border on the edges.  I used a light colored jute twine to hang.

Thanks to Sugar Tot Designs for this free printable!

Homemade Marshmallow Fluff

YUM...Fluff!  Who doesn't love fluff?  It's great for many things including on peanut butter sandwiches (fluffernutters), on desserts, and with hot chocolate, just to name a few.  And it's really easy to make yourself.  Here's how

Ingredients:

3 large egg whites

2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons of sugar

1/3 cup water

3/4 cup corn syrup (not the high fructose kind)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Beat egg whites together until frothy.  Add 2 tablespoons of sugar and continue beating until soft peaks form.

2. Meanwhile, combine water, corn syrup, and 2/3 cup of sugar.  Cook over medium heat until soft-ball stage, or 240 degrees using a candy thermometer.

If you don't have a candy thermometer, like me, fill a small cup with water and a few cubes of ice.  You need really cold water to test.  Drop a few drops of the hot syrup into the water and then pick up with your fingers.  If you can roll it into a soft ball it is finished.  In the picture below, the syrup did not quite roll into a ball but is almost there.

3.  When syrup is at the soft ball stage, pour into egg mixture.  Be careful, the syrup is quite hot!  Mix on high and add vanilla. 

 Continue mixing for about 5 minutes until it looks like marshmallow fluff.

4.  Store in the refrigerator for up to a month.

Chocolate fluff recipe coming coon!

Sherwin Williams 25% Off Coupon

Sherwin Williams is again offering 25% off all paints and stains, and 15% off painting supplies.  They have the BEST quality paints and stains.  This coupon is valid February 7-25.  To print the coupon visit their website.

How to Clean Toaster Oven and Remove Melted Plastic

I have left a bag of bread near the hot toaster many times, and have had that bag melt onto the glass of the toaster.  I have tried scrubbing the melted plastic off, only to find that this does not make it come off.  By complete accident today, I have finally found a way to remove melted plastic on the toaster.  Sorry, no before pictures since this was an unexpected event.

I had my toaster oven on high, 450 degrees, for about 15 minutes and discovered the melted plastic was very soft and liquid like.  So, I took a paper towel and simply wiped it away.  Yes, all I did was turn the toaster oven on high, let it warm up for a bit, and then simply wiped the melted plastic off.  It is completely gone!  YES!  No more plastic.  It made me want to clean my toaster oven.  So here goes...

Here are the racks from my toaster oven.  They were full of burnt on stuff.  I put them in a plastic bag and poured some ammonia in it, about a 1/4 of a cup.  I then left them to sit in the bag for a good 6 hours.

When my racks came out they still had black stuff on them, but it easily wiped away using some brillo.  The ammonia loosened up all of that burnt on stuff and this is what I got.  I was surprised at how easy they were to clean, after soaking them in a little bit of ammonia.

While my racks were soaking, I cleaned the outside (and wiped the inside).  I only used brillo and some hot soapy water.  And did you notice that there is no melted plastic bag stuck on the glass door?

And yes my toaster oven is extra big.  That is because it is also a rotisserie.  I love this toaster oven and now it looks even better clean!

How To Clean a Stainless Sink and Get Rid of Drain Odors

Time:  10-15 minutes

My kitchen sink was in need of a good cleaning!  It was looking pretty disgusting and the drain had an odor coming from it.  See the picture below, pretty bad right?  Well this tutorial will show how I got my sink to look shiny and great using baking soda, vinegar, boiling water, and Bar Keepers Friend.  I love Bar Keepers Friend because it removes rust stains without chemical odors.

1.  Sprinkle baking soda all over and around the sink area.

2.  Spray the baking soda with vinegar.  I keep a small spray bottle full of vinegar for cleaning.  Vinegar works great as a disinfectant  glass cleaner, and an air freshener   I suggest getting a spray bottle for yourself. I got mine at The Dollar Store.

3.  Let the baking soda and vinegar sit for about 10 minutes.  Put on a pot of water to boil.  After 10 minutes, pour the boiling all over the sink.  This helps to loosen the dirt and grime.

4.   Shake Bar Keepers Friend in the sink and take a scouring pad/cloth and clean all around and in the sink.   Rinse clean.

5.  To get rid of the drain odor ( I do not have a garbage disposal and we have a septic tank), pour baking soda down the drain followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar.  Let sit for about 10 minutes and then pour boiling water down the drain.  This loosens and gets rid of odors, sanitizes  and removes grease from your sink drains.  Repeat once a month to keep drains free of blockages without using harsh chemicals.

Home Decorators Pinterest Contest

One of my very favorite places to buy decor for the home is at Home Decorators.  They have created a Pinterest Contest going on now through February 17th.  Just follow directions below and Pin items for your dream bedroom or bathroom.

If you would like an example, I made my own board for my very small 1/2 bath on the 1st floor of my home.

My Home Decorators Pinterest Board